Weekend Tidbits

One of our neighbors - Isn't he cute. Soon to have little cousins running around judging by the girth of his aunts. So the girls have decided they need to walk up to the barn everyday as they want to see the "live birth."
OK - Spent Sat. morning making this little outfit for Kendra's "Jessie" at her insistence. When it was finished, she said "I'll look at it later mom." I know not to look for eternal gratitude from my children yet but, come on, not even a "Thank You." Um, Mom, did I properly thank you for the ballerina dress you made me when I turned "5"? Thank You, Thank You!!!


We have several fields near our house that are 'selb-schneiden' - you go in and cut your own flowers or pick own veggies/pumpkins. The rate per 'stuck' (piece) is posted and you drop your money in the little metal container. Not only that, they leave a sharp little knife on the barrel in case you don't have your scissors OR swiss army knife on your person. As my friend (USA - IL) stated, "There's no place back home that would dare leave a sharp knife out for people to use on flowers/produce in a field and then trust they would actually pay for it all." I'm sure the self-pay places can be found here and there in little corners - but, I would bet on bringing your own knife.

Sarah's visit & Rachel's Ski Trip

Cousin Sarah with the girls. She was here for 3 days and we walked and ate and walked and ate.... It was a great visit for me and so nice to have her here. I realized after her visit (she had been in Rome, Venice and Scotland already) that a visit to Switzerland is more for the experience of the outdoors, the mountains and lakes - the atmosphere, than it is for seeing grand, man-made palaces and exotic life (Zurich is not Rome). It is an understated country that enjoys it's outdoor time/activities and takes the time to stop and smell the roses (or in the case of this week as Sarah had the joy of experiencing - the smell of fertilizer (in the form of manure) being spread in the orchards/fields) and getting together with friends and family. I enjoy it. Rachel and her class.
Rachel and her class took off for Davos for their 3 day/2 night ski trip. Some were a little nervous but most of them were excited. We received a cute little postcard from her today. I am anxious to hear about their time - I get to pick her up in 30 minutes! We have been fine but it does seem quiet around here. And Kendra is ready to have big sissy back home. And her bed has stayed so made up and empty.

I like RED!

You know, Red has always been a good colour for me. And it really goes nicely with the trim on the girls school (otherwise know in town as the green American school). The girls are still small and so should continue to fit in what they call a back seat until we leave Switzerland. Ah, such is the life of the Expat. And it sounds so nice as it sits purring like a lion while waiting.


OOOOPS! I guess I fell asleep while waiting to pick up the girls after school. And I guess my favorite 7 yr old jeans and Billabong hoodie sweatshirt don't quite stack up to the gold bling! and mink vest of the driver of that lovely custom made vehicle. Whom sits behind her giant Gucci sunglasses keeping her Italian/Mediteranean eyes a secret and lips pursed. I'm sure I would smile greatly at everyone if I had a turn with the Ferarri on the A3 - I think I might fall in love - and Bart would be jealous - and thus I must not think about this any longer - I do LOVE to drive fast!

Not to mention - who picks up their kindergartener in a Ferrari!!!!! (well, I might if I had one :)

Delighted with Davos

Doesn't this look like fun! Lounging on giant pillows under Palm trees while you take a break from skiing/boarding. I must say the Europeans know how to create atmosphere and enjoy the outdoors in spite of the snow. Disclaimer - the girls did not use the ashtray!
We were in Davos for the weekend courtesy of Swiss KPMG which hosts a ski weekend each year for employees and their families. Can't turn that down.

We enjoyed a nice morning of skiing on the bunny slope. The girls are really enjoying themselves and improving with every lesson/trip. Rachel even "raced" her dad and won (being the good Daddy, Bart let her!).
One of the mountain bowls to ski in at Davos. There are six mountains to choose from and your ticket works at each for the whole day. I chose to go up Parsenn while I put the girls in a lesson and Bart took off snow-shoeing. Bart had a good time with a group from work on his first snow-shoeing excursion. They were driven up into the mountains and then guided to a warming hut and back. He really enjoyed it and said with clear weather it would have been spectacular. We will probably try it together sometime.

I had an OK time skiing and would have enjoyed it immensly if there hadn't been whiteout conditions at the top. Of course, it was clear in the morning and about 1 hour after I was done. I don't necessarily recommend skiing on a strange mountain, by yourself, not understanding what the confused Swiss are saying to one another when you are unable to see 10 - 15 meters in front of you. I kept watching others go in front of me, see how they were skiing and then followed along - feel the snow, feel the snow - this is on the blue (easy) run! There is no EASY when you can't see what you are skiing on. So, after 2 trys on that run, I went back and found a run that, while low visibility on top, had better visibility for the bottom 2/3's and I enjoyed. Of course, this morning was skiing on the bunny slope and wishing a little that I could go back up the mountain in the sun. Next time.
Having lunch before heading back home. We enjoyed our weekend - Thank You KPMG! And all within 1 1/2 hrs of home. Hopefully there will be a little more snowfall this before the season ends - it was a short season this year for Switzerland. I think CA and CO have enjoyed a much better one!

Sledding & "Random" Thoughts

A pic of the SudoBahn going thru the hills toward Einsiedeln. The mist and snow - very ethereal. Have to use words like ethereal in 'this' lifetime as I didn't get to when working as an accountant.

And - the only mom who seemed to accompany the Kindergarten sledding (sledging - if you are from UK/Western Europe) trip WITHOUT a camera. So I give you a small mountain train instead of cute 5, 6 & 7 year olds grinning and screaming with delight as they attempt to keep from crashing into one another. I'd say all but 5 out of 70 kiddos were wearing their ski helmets and - I would highly recommend it should you ever send your child sledding with school! And maybe a back protector. I think I could use a trip to the Chiro. after diving after several Kamakazi sledders.

We have determined the Swiss take their emotions out in the sports they choose. This is a land of extreme climbing, hiking, skiing and sledging. I caught my neighbors putting what appears to be velcro on the bottom of their downhill skiis the other day. They explained they WALK up the hill on the skis and THEN ski down. HELLO - That is what a chair lift is for! And then the sledging down mountains and all the injuries. People going off piste (off runs) and falling off cliffs. Sounds fun doesn't it!

I've noticed many bloggers offer "random" thoughts. I'll offer a few of mine. I really enjoyed sitting with 70 kindergarteners today for lunch. A first for me. They were behaved, they ate their lunch without complaining, they clapped and they even danced. At times during lunch, Ibrahim played his drum. Ibrahim is a dynamic PE teacher/soccer coach at school who is a former pro soccer player from Ghana with a beautiful smile. The kids love him and love his drum. They clapped to the beat, some of them danced and they were so unconscious in their response to the music - it was beautiful.

And then, on the way home, there was a slowdown in traffic. Why? The old man with the horse drawn cart piled with topsoil and the dog riding atop. This goes along with the horses that take their turns at the round abouts (traffic circles). And then the old man in the monks robes with a jaunty hat on. This is why I love living in Switzerland.

And my mind is very much in IA and CA right now. Just missing everyone in IA and my Gma's Big Birthday Bash is tomorrow and I hate to have to miss it.

I am responsible for the music at our church this weekend. I am nervous. I have never picked out all the songs, arranged for all the music copies, power point, etc... before. Pray for me & Sunday.

Which leads me to the fact, in my belief and how I attempt to live life, that while I may have 'random' thoughts and ideas, God doesn't. He does all with a purpose - not that we can ever hope to know the mind of God - but everything happens for His purpose. So, I am glad He did not make me randomly but with purpose.